National Park for All” action day: A celebration of inclusion in Spiegelau!

National Park for All” action day: A celebration of inclusion in Spiegelau!

A bright day in the forest play area in Spiegelau brought happy faces on July 16, 2025. Over 500 visitors from schools and facilities for the disabled came together to take part in the day of action under the motto “National Park for All”. The organizers put together a colorful program that offered lots of fun and learning for young and old. In her speech, National Park Director Ursula Schuster emphasized the immense importance of accessibility and thanked the dedicated carers and sponsors, without whom this initiative would not have been possible. In doing so, those responsible are sending a strong signal for inclusion and participation.

Holger Kiesel, the Bavarian State Government's representative for people with disabilities, was there as a guest of honor and praised the organizers' great commitment. Deputy District Administrator Franz Brunner also found clear words about the importance of inclusion, while Mayor Karlheinz Roth was visibly pleased that the day of action had returned to its roots in Spiegelau. The day was characterized by mutual exchange and joy - a real celebration of community.

Diverse offers for everyone

The organizers led by Lukas Laux from the National Park and Christian Fiebig from the District Office had thought of everything when planning. 20 stands offered a variety of activities, including an exciting forest quiz, a barefoot path and tactile stations that introduced visitors to the facets of the forest. This variety of offerings was not only entertaining, it also promoted an understanding of nature and the beauty of the Bavarian Forest National Park.

But the national park has also done a lot beyond the event to ensure accessibility. The treetop path and the tree tower in the national park are accessible to wheelchair users and people with disabilities. In addition, a tactile guidance device was installed, which particularly supports the visually impaired, and all facilities in the national park as well as the Falkenstein and Lusen national park centers are barrier-free. This goes hand in hand with the vision of making nature accessible to everyone - a challenge that National Park boss Franz Leibl takes seriously by gathering feedback from those affected in order to further improve the offering. bayerischer-wald.de reports that the circular path on the plant and rock outdoor area is also barrier-free and offers great experiences.

A place for inclusion

The connection between nature conservation and inclusion remains a central theme in the Bavarian Forest. More and more institutions are working to anchor accessibility in their offerings. Visitors to the Upper Bavarian Forest Nature Park can also take advantage of barrier-free holiday options, which are enhanced by warm hosts. bayerischer-wald.org emphasizes that many attractions have been tested and have been awarded the “Travel for All” seal. It is important not only to remove structural barriers, but to create real inclusion for people with disabilities.

There is a contact person for anyone who is looking for further information or has suggestions about accessibility in the national park: The contact details are easy to find: telephone 09922/50020 or email npfueralle@npv-bw.bayern.de. In an area where nature and people meet, it is crucial that everyone has the opportunity to experience and enjoy the beauty of the national park.